Welsh League Division One:

Haverfordwest County 1

Monmouth Town 0

A 79th minute strike by ace goal poacher Rhys Dalling took Haverfordwest County to the double over Monmouth Town, who had lost 7-0 the previous week but played with commitment against a Bluebirds’ outfit that wasn’t firing on all cylinders.

Haverfordwest had won 4-2 in Monmouth but it always seemed likely that a single goal from either side might be enough to take three points here – and that is the way it turned out after a goalless first half and a bit of a rocket from co-manager Chris O’Sullivan at half time saw the homesters not give away possession so easily after the interval.

And the goal was certainly worth waiting for as Lee Hudgell lofted a clever little ball into the path of Ashley Bevan on the left and he held off a challenge en route to the bye-line, initially dummying to fire in a left-foot drive but then looking up and squaring a low pass to Dalling, who just got to the ball before Luke Cleaves and touched it beyond Lee Williams in the Monmouth goal.

But it was Monmouth who had a slight edge in the first period as Kaz Kareem set up a chance for Sam Palmer but his shot flew over the bar before having another chance but only able to watch in dismay as his low shot beat Gwilt but ricocheted off the far post and was scrambled clear.

Haverfordwest responded with a good cross from Steff Williams found Bevan at the far post but his header was pushed away for a corner – and Bevan again featured with a strong run but he couldn’t get enough power into his right-foot shot and Williams saved low down.

At the other end, Gwilt saved comfortable from Ash Ford but then made the save of the match as he blocked a wicked volley from Monmouth skipper Rob Laurie from close range.

The Bluebirds began the second period in more positive mode and subs Dalling and Palmer soon caught the eye at the start of the final quarter of the match. Dalling looked through on goal but then lost control of the ball and his low cross only just evaded Palmer as he slid in, with Williams on the scramble as the ball passed inches away from the upright!

Then came Dalling’s vital goal and the Bluebirds might have doubled their lead on two occasions as Sean Pemberton had a far-post header saved from a Hudgell corner – and Palmer was just wide of the mark soon afterwards.

Jake Robinson shot wide for Monmouth as Gwilt covered the ball well and the final whistle from referee Leigh Jones, who had a good game, saw Haverfordwest County pouch another three points as they jumped into seventh spot – but with games in hand over most of the teams ahead of them!

They now travel to the Port Talbot area this Friday (7.30pm) to take on Goytre United, with whom they drew 1-1 at home and who are a place below the Bluebirds in the league table.

Haverfordwest County: James Gwilt, Matthew Broome, Sean Pemberton (Capt), Jamie Evans, Antonio Facciuto: Gregg Walters (Kieran O’Brien); Ricky Watts; Ashley Bevan; Kristian Speake (Nicky Palmer), Steffan Williams (Rhys Dalling), Lee Hudgell.

Substitutes (not used): Spencer Williams; Chris O’Sullivan.

Monmouth Town: Lee Williams, Mitch Palmer, Luke Cleaves, Rob Laurie (Capt), Dan Spence, Ash Ford, Jake Robinson, Kaz Kareem, Craig Lewis, Sam Palmer, Brad Flay. Substitutes: Rhod Lewis, Joe Loftus, Rob Atkinson.

Referee: Leigh Jones.

Assistants: Dave Badger and Gareth Elliott.